Unit of Practice   Springfield, Illinois Webquest- Community Ties

Dianne Fulton
Abstract
Students will learn about their community, the city of Springfield, Illinois.  Through this Webquest, students will be able to answer questions about their city using Websites designed for Springfield.  The rich Lincoln history, city government, facts and background, and parks and recreation will be studied.

Invitation
What do you know about the great city you live in?  Springfield, Illinois is the capitol of Illinois, and Abraham Lincoln once lived in Springfield.  You will become an explorer and find out much more about this great city.

Unit details
Social Studies/ Technology
Learning Level-Intermediate

State Standards
Soc. Studies14B - Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois and the United States.
Soc. Studies 14F - Understand the development of United States political ideas and traditions.
Soc. Studies 15E - Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and consumption in the economy.

Benchmarks
Soc. Studies 14B - Identify the positions of leadership in a community.
Soc. Studies 14B -Identify the leadership organizations of one’s community.
Soc. Studies 14F - Explain how a community is formed.
Soc. Studies 15E - Identify services provided by community government.
 

Situations
Many Third Grade classrooms (including mine) have only one Internet connection.  Considering this, I decided to study our community, Springfield, Illinois using a Webquest format.  Due to the large number of students in the normal classroom, it will be necessary to divide the students into groups.  While one group would be completing their Webquest (see below), the other groups will work on other activities relevant to the study of Springfield.  For optimum effectiveness, an aide or parent must be available to help at the Webquest site or help with the other groups.  This project would require a minimum of two weeks, working everyday for forty-five minutes.  Part of this time will be for the Webquest and group work, and part of the time will be for designing the class presentation.

Tasks
Overview – Groups will find out information on Springfield, Illinois by answering questions from preselected Internet sites using the Webquest format.  Students will present their findings in a Kid Pix Slide Show presentation.
Day 1: The teacher will lead a discussion on our community.  The teacher and class will preview the Springfield Website. Students will then be divided into groups of 4-5 to begin researching the Facts and Background of Springfield, the Lincoln Facts, our Springfield Government, and Recreation and Fun in Springfield.
 Students will become explorers of the city; each student will have a specific responsibility.
    1. The recorder- You will write down the answers to the questions.
    2.  The navigator- You will be clicking on the Internet site to find the answers to your quest.
    3.  The reporter- Each day you will report to class what information your team has discovered.
    4.  The photographer/illustrator- It will be your job to save any photographs your group has       discovered.  You will be in charge of any graphics on your Kidpix presentation.
    5.  The Explorer Captain- Your job will be to see that your team is on task.  You can make sure that time is not wasted on your journey.   It will also be your job to put your answers on the Kidpix Slide Show.  You will be in charge of your team's folder.
 
Days 2-5: Students will take turns using the computer to find the answers to the questions. Other activities have been designed on a rotation basis.  For a complete description of other group rotation activities see: http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/dfulton/project.htm

  Facts and Background Your job is to find out many details about the facts of Springfield, Illinois, such as its size, age, population, and other facts.
Questions to guide your search:
            1.  When did Springfield, Illinois become a city?
            2.  How many people live in Springfield, Illinois?
            3.  For what is Springfield, Illinois famous?
            4.  What are some businesses in Springfield, Illinois?
            5.  Name some famous people from Springfield.
            6.  Name a famous sports person who came from Springfield.
            7.  Where is our "Sister City?”
            8.  What are some things to do in Springfield, Illinois?
            9.  Name six other elementary schools, and three high schools in Springfield.
WEB LINKS
http://www.springfield.il.us
http://www.springfield-illinois.com
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsangam/schist.htm
http://www.gscc.org/marketdata/quality_of_life.htm

 
 Lincoln Facts
 You get to become experts on Abraham Lincoln, one very famous person
 from Springfield, Illinois.
                       Questions to answer about Lincoln:
                 1.  Where is Lincoln's home located in Springfield?
                 2.  How much does it cost to visit Lincoln's Home?
                 3.   Where else did Lincoln live?
                 4.  In what kind of homes did Lincoln live?
                 5.  To whom was Abraham Lincoln married?
                 6.  What were the names of his sons?
                 7.  What pets did the Lincoln family have?
                 8.  What is the Lincoln question of the week?
                 9.   When was Lincoln president of the United States?
WEB LINKS
 http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/L_Links.htm
 http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/index.html
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alhome.html
http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/alincoln.html
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=16
http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html
http://www.abraham-lincoln.net/page21.html

 The Government in Springfield, Illinois
Your job is to find out how the city of Springfield is run.  You will explore to find out who makes the rules for our city.
                Questions to guide your search:
                1.  Who is the Mayor of Springfield, Illinois?
                2.  In what ward do you live?
                3.  Who is the Alderman in your ward?
                4.  Give one rule for bicycle safety.
                5.  Give one rule for fire safety.
                6.  Which department fixes the streets?
                7.  Which department supplies water for the city?
Web Links
http://www.springfield.il.us
http://www.springfield-illinois.com

Recreation and Fun Activities in Springfield, Illinois
You will explore fun places to go in Springfield, Illinois.
              Questions to guide your search:
                1.  What are some recreational links that Springfield has?
                2.  Find two facts about the Rees Carillon.
                3.  If you were visiting Springfield, Illinois, name four places you could visit.
                4.  Watch the Springfield Slide Show.  List all of the sites you have visited.
                5.  What exhibits can you find at the Illinois State Museum?
                      (List three that you would like to see)
               6.  What activities do they offer at the State Museum?
Web Links
http://www.springfield-illinois.com
http://www.carillon-rees.org
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/index.html
http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/REC_DEPT/Rec

Days 5-9: Students will work on their Kid Pix Slide Presentations.
Day 10:  Presentations of Springfield Webquest
 
Interactions
Students would work in groups of 4-5 to research Springfield, Illinois.  Each student would be assigned a task for the teamwork.  The teacher would model how to use the Internet Springfield Page using the computer and the LTV connection.  Students would already be familiar with the Kid Pix Slide Show, but might need some help with this.  Parents, aides, or community members would be welcome to work with the computer groups or other groups.  Community members such as the mayor or city alderman would be invited to speak to the class and observe them working on the Webquest.
 
Assessment
Group participation (see rubric)
Successful presentation of KidPix Slideshow presentation (See rubric)
Requirements for Kidpix Slideshow:
Each group will need to make a title page and report what you found out about Springfield, Illinois.  You may write the answers to your questions.   Add at least one picture to your presentation.
Group Participation Evaluation Rubric
 1 is the low score and 5 is the high score
 
Works well with Group 
1
2
3
4
5
Uses Time Wisely
1
2
3
4
5
Search on Web
1
2
3
4
5
Question Sheet
1
2
3
4
5
Organizes Information
1
2
3
4
5
Final Project
1
2
3
4
5
Overall Efforts
1
2
3
4
5
 
Explanation of Group Rubric:
Works well with Group: Allows everyone a chance to share ideas and give their opinions. Works cooperatively to design final project. Helps group members find information or answer any questions.

Uses Time Wisely: Time is spent efficiently researching, collecting data, organizing, and designing.

Search on Web: Engaged in reading information on the web, writing down notes, answering questions, sketching pictures, or discovering any other neat facts about Springfield, Illinois.

Question Sheet: Find out as many answers as you can from your question sheet guide. Add any other interesting information you have found within your topic. Remember to gather information about your specific area of study.

Organizes Information: Information is organized in an outline, a graphic organizer, or small paragraphs.

Final Project: Kidpix Slide Show should be put together with group members designing their pages. Each slide should contain text, at least one graphic and sound. Each group should make a title page with the names of the group members. All presentations should be presented to the class.

Overall Efforts: Consistently being helpful, working hard, and trying your best!

Slide Show Rubric


 
Proficient 4 Advanced 3 Basic 2 Novice 1
Title Page Project Requirements(Number of slides) Information is generally clear and accurate.  Some information may be confusing and incorrect. Information is confusing, incorrect or flawed.
Graphics Graphic enhances text. Placement and color is pleasing to eye. (More than one graphic.) Graphic enhances text.  Appropriate placement, color.  (One graphic) Graphic enhances text. No graphic.
Information Information is clear, valid, and accurate. Information is generally clear, and accurate. Some information may be confusing, incorrect or flawed. Information is confusing, incorrect or flawed.
Sound  Voices are clear/relevant to slide.  Timing of voice is correct. (Not too fast or slow) Most voices are clear and relevant. Timing of voices is mostly correct. Some slides have clear voices relevant to slide.  No voices were used.  Cannot understand voices.
Project Requirements(Number of slides)  Project contains 3-6 slides, including title page.  Met deadline.  Project contains fewer than 3, or more than 6 slides.  Met deadline. Some information lacking.  Project slightly late. Project submitted late with incorrect requirements.

 
Tools
Computer
LTV hookup, TV
Internet
Books on Springfield
Streets 98 computer software
Laser Disc-A. Lincoln “Here I Have Lived”
Laser Disc Player

Internet Sites/Web Links Used in Webquest
http://www.springfield-illinois.com
http://www.springfield.il.us
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsangam/schist.htm
http://www.gscc.org/marketdata/quality_of_life.htm
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/index.html
http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/L_Links.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/index.html
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alhome.html
http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/alincoln.html
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=16
http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html
http://www.abraham-lincoln.net/page21.html
http://www.carillon-rees.org
http://www.springfield.il.us/CITY_GOV/REC_DEPT/Rec_dept.htm

Primary URL:  For a complete description of this Springfield, Illinois Webquest go to:
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/dfulton/project.htm
 

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